By Erwin Nicavera/Philippine News Agency
BACOLOD CITY — Environment advocates in Negros Occidental have issued a manifesto calling for the protection of the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP).
A copy of the document “Pabukid 2019 Manifesto” obtained on Thursday from the Group of Environmental Socialists (GOES) highlighted concerns on the illegal structures within the protected area.
“We call on the concerned government agencies to penalized these environmental violators,” according to the manifesto crafted during the group’s educational and environmental camp held in the mountains of Talisay City and Murcia town on May 25 and 26.
The NNNP spans 80,454.5 hectares of land covering portions of 11 local government units, including the cities of Talisay, Silay, Victorias, Cadiz, Sagay and San Carlos, and the towns of E.B. Magalona, Toboso, Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto, and Murcia.
The group said buying and selling of lands by the rich and powerful individuals inside the NNNP is a violation of Sections 20 and 23 of the Republic Act 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Act of 2018.
Its manifesto also stated that vacation houses, restaurants, resorts, and coffee shops operating inside the park without building and business permits also violates Republic Act 6541 or the National Building Code of the Philippines.
The group called for an inter-agency meeting with all concerned government agencies, including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Tourism and Department of Agrarian Reform, to protect NNNP as well as the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park, and other mountain ranges in Negros from further destruction.
“We call their attention to implement a status quo at NNNP to protect its remaining diminishing forest,” it added.
The NNNP has unique biophysical and geographical features and is part of the largest watershed in Negros Occidental.
Formerly known as the Northern Negros Forest Reserve, the area was renamed the NNNP under the NIPAS Act of 1992 by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 895 dated Aug. 15, 2005.
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